Wrong-way driver killed on Highway 99 in Merced. Here’s what happened
The California Highway Patrol in Merced is investigating a fatal crash of a wrong-way driver on Highway 99 north of 16th Street early Tuesday.
A 68-year-old man from Santa Ana was killed in the crash. He had no passengers, the CHP said in a Facebook post.
At around 1:26 a.m., the CHP received reports of a driver travelling south in the northbound lanes of Highway 99. While CHP officers were en route, a caller reported the vehicle had crashed into the center median and gone off the highway.
When officers got to the scene, at about 1:37 a.m., a 2013 BMW SUV was located between the northbound and southbound bridges of Highway 99 over Bear Creek.
The SUV was on its roof and partially submerged in Bear Creek. The man was found dead in the driver’s seat.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, the CHP said. It is unknown if the driver was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Traffic was affected for about three hours.
If anyone witnessed the traffic crash or has information regarding the events leading up to it, please contact investigating Officer Angel Fuentes at 209-356-6600.
This story was originally published December 23, 2025 at 10:57 AM.
